JESSICA BARON

Hallo! Bonjour! Dzień dobry! Hello! Thanks for exploring my portfolio!

 

I'm Jessica (Jess) Baron, currently a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science (CS), Visual Computing (VC) at Clemson University and a Fulbrighter for research in Switzerland.My research focuses on rendering and material modeling for computer graphics. I study the appearance of feathers and seek to bridge disciplines (such as graphics and paleontology), international relationships, and connections between academia and industry.

 

More details about my current Ph.D. work and past studies are Research page, most experiences advised by Dr. Eric Patterson.

 

The intersection of technology and art has always intrigued me. Through my internships, research, academics, professional involvement, and extracurricular experiences in the field, I continue to expand both my logical and artistic abilities and involvement in the expansive and inspirational field of computer graphics.

​

I primarily develop in Python and C/C++ with Unreal Engine, Qt5, OpenGL 4.x and GLSL, and Maya API. I have industry experience through software R&D internships at Pixar Animation Studios (RenderMan BxDFs), Epic Games (Unreal Engine rendering), and Weta Digital ("fur and feathers"procedural tools). 

 

My first internship experience was abroad at TH Köln in Germany where I began my feather research and international connections. I am a recipient of the 2020-2021 Fulbright / Swiss Government Excellence awards where I will continue feather research for computer graphics at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland advised by Prof. Wenzel Jakob.

 

I teach a 2-course sequence that introduces programming with a visual, production focus to graduate students entering Clemson's Digital Production Arts (DPA) graduate program. Previously, at both Clemson's Countenance Lab and UNCW, I worked as a graduate/undergraduate researcher on 2D and 3D face parameterization.

 

I also enjoy outreaching to people around the world, across multiple disciplines, and involved with academia, industry, or both and helping advise my student peers in approaching the areas of computer graphics and digital production.I led the UNCW-ACM SIGGRAPH chapter, reviewed submissions for SIGGRAPH 2019 and 2020, volunteered for SIGGRAPH 2016 and 2017, and gave a series of talks about my projects.